Toddler's Body Found With Bites, Scratches

Autopsy finds girl was beaten to death

Receive the latest local updates in your inbox

Police and the state Department of Children and Family Services are looking into the death of a 2-year-old South Side girl who was found with bite and scratch marks on her body.

Armani Cotton, of the 1800 block of East 72nd Street, was found with bite and scratch marks on her body at a home in the 5500 block of South Emerald Avenue, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The girl was pronounced dead at Saint Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center at 4:42 p.m. Saturday.

Earlier in the day, officers responded to a call about a child unresponsive in bed, police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.

DCFS is investigating allegations of abuse against the mother’s boyfriend, DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe said. DCFS has had no previous contact with the family and there were no other children in the home, Marlowe said.

An autopsy Sunday found that the girl died of multiple injuries from a beating and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Police are conducting a death investigation and no charges have been filed in relation to the child’s death as of Sunday afternoon, police said.